Methods of forming material in a gap in a substrate include forming a pattern to define a gap on a substrate. A bottom oxide layer is formed on a surface of the substrate and substantially filling the gap. The bottom oxide layer is etched back inside an opening in the gap to expose side walls of the gap so that a residual bottom oxide layer remains at a bottom of the gap. A top oxide layer is selectively deposited on the residual bottom oxide layer, wherein the top oxide layer is deposited in a first direction toward the opening at a faster rate than in a second direction away from the side walls.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method of forming material in a gap in a substrate, the method comprising: forming a pattern to define a gap on a substrate, wherein an upper surface of the pattern and sidewalls of the gap comprise a non-oxide layer; forming a bottom oxide layer on a surface of the substrate and substantially filling the gap; etching back the bottom oxide layer inside an opening in the gap to expose the upper surface of the pattern and side walls of the gap so that a residual bottom oxide layer remains only at a bottom of the gap; and selectively growing a top oxide layer on the residual bottom oxide layer faster than on the non-oxide layer.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein forming a pattern comprises: forming a hard mask pattern exposing a part of the substrate; etching the substrate using the hard mask pattern as an etch mask to form the gap; and conformally depositing a silicon nitride layer liner on a surface of the substrate including on the side walls of the gap.
3. A method claim 1 wherein the step of forming a pattern comprises: forming a hard mask pattern on the substrate exposing a part of the substrate; etching the substrate using the hard mask pattern as the etch mask to form the trench; and removing the hard mask pattern.
4. A method according to claim 3 wherein forming a trench oxide layer inner sidewall in the trench is performed before removing the hard mask pattern.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the top oxide layer is formed using ozone and TEOS as a source gas at a pressure in a range between about 200 torr and about 760 torr and at a temperature in a range between about 400° C. to 480° C. temperature in an environment containing the substrate.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein an amount of ozone in a range between about 1 liter to about 18 liters is introduced to provide a concentration is a range between about 1% by weight and about 18% by weight, and TEOS is provided a rate in a range between about 100 sccm and about 1200 sccm.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein forming a bottom oxide layer comprises forming the bottom oxide layer to a thickness in a range between about 100 Angstroms and about 3600 Angstroms.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 11, 2003
April 15, 2008
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